Nephrolepis plant named &#39;Green Moment&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Nephrolepis exaltata  cultivar named ‘Green Moment’ is disclosed, characterized moderate to rapid growth, green leaves unique leaf abscission characteristics. The new variety is a  Nephrolepis exaltata , typically produced as an indoor ornamental plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Nephrolepis exaltata

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Green Moment’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is the product of chance discovery. The new varietyoriginated as a naturally occurring mutation, whole plant mutation ofthe unpatented ‘Boston Blue Bell’ variety of Nephrolepis exaltata.

The new variety was discovered by the inventor, Petrus de Boer, acitizen of the Netherlands, during Spring 2006 in a commercialgreenhouse belonging to the inventor in Asten, the Netherlands. Afteridentifying the single plant as a potentially interesting selection, theinventor continued confidential testing of ‘Green Moment’ at his owngreenhouse, assessing the stability of the unique characteristics ofthis variety.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Green Moment’ was firstperformed at a lab in Burgh-haamstede, the Netherlands, by tissueculture in May of 2011. Access to all plants was restricted, as plantswere kept in restricted locations that are not open to the public.Through subsequent propagation by tissue culture, multiple generationshave been reproduced, which have shown that the unique features of thiscultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Green Moment’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Green Moment.’ These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Green Moment’ as a new and distinctNephrolepis exaltata cultivar:

1. Medium green colored leaves.2. Attractive leaf abscission behavior.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Green Moment’ are similar to the parent,Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Boston Blue Bell’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics. The new variety, however, produces leaves that aregreen in color whereas ‘Boston Blue Bell’ produces leaves that areyellow-green. ‘Green Moment’ is taller than ‘Boston Blue Bell’ as wellas faster growing. Leaves of ‘Green Moment’ have much less abscission,compared to ‘Boston Blue Bell’. Leaflets of ‘Green Moment’ are biggerthat those of ‘Boston Blue Bell’.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Green Moment’ are also comparable to thecommercial variety Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Fluffy Ruffles’, unpatented, inmost horticultural characteristics. Plants of the new variety, producedarker green foliage arranged at a less acute angle, and with lessundulation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘Green Moment’ grown in a commercial greenhouse inAsten, the Netherlands. This plant is approximately 22 weeks old, shownplanted in a 17 cm. container. The photograph was taken usingconventional techniques and although colors may appear different fromactual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible byconventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2001, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘Green Moment’ plants grown in a greenhouse inAsten, The Netherlands. This was done in June 2012 with a plant 22 weeksold, in a 17 cm. pot. Temperatures ranged from 18° C. at night to 20° C.during the day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments were givento the plants. No chemical treatments were given to plants. Measurementsand numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Green Moment’-   Propagation:    -   -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 21-28 days from a            rooted plantlet at approximately 22° C.        -   Time to produce rooted plantlet.—Approximately 5 weeks at            approximately 22° C.        -   Root description.—Very dense and freely branching,            moderately fine, slightly fibrous, non-fleshy, coloured near            RHS Brown 199D and N199B.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Broad spreading-upright.        -   Plant shape.—Flattened globular.        -   Height.—Approximately 31.0 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Approximately 61.5 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderate to rapid.        -   Branching characteristics.—No branches, fronds grow directly            from the base.        -   Frond arrangement.—Irregular, no pattern present.        -   Diameter of stem.—No stems present.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Quantity per plant: Average 130 Leaf Type: Compound,            pinnate Leaflets per Leaf Average 56 Average Leaf Length:            Approximately 26.7 cm (excluding petiole). Average Leaf            Width: Approximately 8.1 cm. Average Leaflet Length:            Approximately 4.3 cm Average Leaflet Width: At base            approximately 1.3 cm At mid-section approximately 0.9 cm            Leaflet shape: Narrow deltoid to broad lanceolate Leaflet            Apex: Obtuse Leaflet Base: Truncate Overall Leaf Shape:            Narrow elliptic to lanceolate Margin: Entire Aspect:            Slightly wavy, tip slightly curved downward Texture of top            surface: Smooth, moderately glossy Texture of bottom            surface: Smooth, slightly glossy Color: Young foliage upper            side: Yellow-green; near RHS 144A Young foliage under side:            Yellow-green; near RHS 144A Mature foliage upper side: Green            to Yellow-green; a color in between RHS 137B and 146A Mature            foliage under side: Green; near RHS 137B.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate Venation coloration upper side:            Brown; near RHS N200A Venation coloration under side: Brown;            near RHS 200A.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 7.8 cm Width: At geniculum:            Approximately 0.15 cm Above clump: Approximately 0.15 cm            Color: Upper side: proximal part Brown; near RHS N199B and            200D, middle part Yellow-green; RHS 152A, distal part            slightly lighter; near RHS 152B and 152C. Under side:            proximal part Yellow-green; near RHS 152B and 152C, middle            and distal part Yellow-green; RHS 144A Strength: Strong.        -   Leaflet petiole.—No Leaflet petiole present.        -   Rachis description.—Length: Approximately 25.9 cm. Width:            Approximately 0.1 cm Color: Upper side Yellow-green; near            RHS 152D, lower side yellow-Green; near RHS 146C Strength:            Strong Texture: Moderately glossy, sparsely covered with            tufts of short soft hairs, average length 0.2 cm, coloured            Grey-brown; near RHS 199A.        -   Other foliage characteristics.—No.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Spore production.—No.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Indoor fern, hardy to at least USDA            zone 10.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Nephrolepisexaltata plant named ‘Green Moment’ as herein illustrated and described.